Thousands of homes across Tyneside and the wider North East could be converted to run on hydrogen in an effort to hit climate change targets.

The H21 North of England report, published today, has called for more than 700,000 homes across Tyneside and Teesside to be converted to run on hydrogen by 2034.

The moves have been proposed by Northern Gas Networks, which supplies gas to the North East, and its North West and Midlands counterpart Cadent, in association with Norwegian energy company Equinor.

The H21 North of England report has called for more than 700,000 homes across Tyneside and Teesside to be converted to run on hydrogen by 2034 (Image: Huddersfield Daily Examiner)

Under their plans, work to convert homes in the North East would being in 2024, with team of engineers working street by street until the project was completed. The plan aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by delivering the zero-carbon gas to millions of homes and businesses across the North.

If approved the scheme would be the largest clean energy project in the world, and would reduce carbon emissions by more than 258m tonnes a year by 2050, around 80% of the UK’s remaining reduction target.

Overall the plan would mean the conversion of 3.7m homes as well as 40,000 businesses in Northern England.

The cost of the project is estimated to be £22.7bn, but the companies involved say their plans have backing from political leaders in the North.

Read More

Mark Horsley, chief executive of Northern Gas Networks, said: “We are delighted our plans for turning homes in Teesside and Tyneside near emission-free have the backing of local government. Support from our regional stakeholders is essential to this project’s success.

“The H21 North of England report presents an exciting opportunity for cities like Newcastle and Middlesbrough to play a world-leading role in achieving a low-carbon, hydrogen future. As well as reducing carbon emissions, hydrogen conversion in our region can create new, good jobs, improve air quality and stimulate the rollout of other hydrogen technology in the area, such as hydrogen cars, buses and trains.

“We are already working with the Government to develop hydrogen conversion technology and we look forward to building on these exciting projects over the coming years”.

Henrik Solgaard Andersen, H21 programme director at Equinor said: “Across the world, industry and Governments are becoming ever more interested in hydrogen’s potential to play a lead role in reducing carbon emissions across whole economies. This report will be of interest to many countries, but the UK has the ideal mix of geography, skilled workforce and existing technology to begin deep decarbonisation of heat today.

Read More

“H21 North of England is an excellent example of the dynamic UK-Norway energy partnership focused around the North Sea. And Equinor looks forward to working with our partners and the UK Government to make the H21 North of England project a world-leading example of decarbonisation and seize the opportunities it offers.”

The H21 group said the proposals to convert homes and businesses across the North would support tens of thousands of jobs and